The Return of the Witch: Asajj Ventress Reawakens in New Star Wars Series

Asajj Ventress is coming back to the Star Wars galaxy, and fans couldn’t be more excited. The fierce former Sith apprentice will appear in the new animated series Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld, and once again, her voice will be brought to life by the talented Nika Futterman.

Futterman has been the voice of Ventress since the 2008 Star Wars: The Clone Wars movie. Over the years, she has also played characters like Shaeeah Lawquane and Sy Snootles, but Ventress holds a special place in her heart. “I feel like I have become her. We are one,” Futterman told StarWars.com.

After The Clone Wars ended, fans didn’t see Ventress again for a long time. Futterman shared how hard that was for her. “I was under the covers for ten years, crying, saying, ‘Why did it end! We didn’t even finish my story!’”

Ventress’ story did continue, in a way, through the novel Dark Disciple by Christie Golden. The book is based on scripts from unfinished episodes of The Clone Wars and follows her relationship with Jedi Quinlan Vos. In the story, Ventress sacrifices herself, showing a new side of her character. But now she’s back on screen, and Tales of the Underworld will explain how.

Fans recently got a quick look at Ventress in The Bad Batch, and Futterman called that appearance an “appetizer.” She added, “After The Bad Batch, they told me they had this little idea for an ‘entree’.”

The new series will premiere all six episodes on May 4th for Star Wars Day. However, two episodes are already available early through a special Fortnite event. Three of the episodes will focus on bounty hunter Cad Bane, and the other three will tell the next chapter of Ventress’ journey—from the events of Dark Disciple to her life after Order 66.

This new version of Ventress gives her room to grow. Futterman explained: “We’ve spent all these years knowing her as a bad guy who was definitely multi-layered but didn’t show a softer side. I don’t want to say she has become soft, but we explore a side of her besides the lone wolf road warrior that we’re familiar with.”

Ventress’ past relationship with Vos is still important to who she is now. “No matter how hard she tries now, she can no longer just be dark,” said Futterman. “Anyone who has experienced love can no longer just be dark. Everything was already there lurking below the surface.”

Coming back to the role was a big moment for the actress. “I’ve really gone from just feeling and imagining, to doing more research into her. It was a quick jump back into being who she is.”

Her voice as Ventress has also changed a bit. “When I first started with her, she was very regal. She’ll always have a little bit of that, because she’s witchy and Dathmorian, but now there’s a new edge to her,” Futterman said. “She still has the guttural, deep, dark voice, but now with a little less of the lilt.”

The trailer for Tales of the Underworld shows Ventress fighting a new Inquisitor, using her yellow curved lightsaber from Dark Disciple, and even protecting a youngling. But don’t expect her to become soft or motherly. Futterman put it clearly: “We just couldn’t see it, based on the dastardly nature of her storyline. She was never able to explore the softer part of herself before, because that would be too painful.”

Now, she finally gets the chance. And Futterman, like many fans, hopes this isn’t the end of the story. “Let’s do it, baby,” she said. “It seems that everybody loves her and wants more.”